Much of 2020 was spent developing the construction drawings and manuals that will guide the restoration of the historic theater and construction of the building addition at the rear of the building. You will recognize some features, others won't be so familiar because they have been badly damaged or missing for decades and some areas will be new. We believe that what has been designed will "knock your socks off!"
The design team was led by Atkin Olshin Schade Architects. Columbus Construction, the project's construction manager was fully engaged developing budget, schedules, and determining constructability of the design team's plans. Other integral members of the team were H. Gilroy Damon Associates (civil engineers). Bruce Brooks and Associates (mechanical engineers), Accentech (acousticians), and Keast & Hood (structural engineers). We also hired firms to determine the percolation rate of rainwater running off the theater's roof, and to core the cement stage floor to determine if the stage could hold the weight of a live performance. An engineering firm specializing in making buildings energy efficient was hired to determine whether the plans are energy efficient--- they are! All of this work did not come cheap--close to $450,000 was spent on this stage of the project.
We also spent a large amount of time and resources to gain the required government approvals for the project. Approvals were secured from Lansdowne's Planning Commission, and Zoning, and Historic Architectural Review boards. We also received sign off from the Delaware County Planning Commission and Delaware County Conservation District. Because we are using federal historic tax credits to fund a portion of the restoration we secured approvals from the National Park Service and PA Historical and Museum Commission.
We continue to work with the architect and construction manager on lining up final sub-contractor bids while we work on closing the remaining, but shrinking funding gap.
We will release a construction start date as soon as we can say with 100% certainty that work will begin. Don't worry--- its coming!
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